Firing of guns



Patented Dec. 28, 1920 5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTUR 6': Hazelion. BY M AT TURNEY G. HAZELTON.

'FIRING 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED 0Ec.2. 191s.

Patented Dec.'28,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JWENTUR I fialzeztanu fiZ/RM Y AT IURNEY G. H'AZELTON.

v FIRING- OF GUNS- V APPLICATION FILED DEC-2,1918- 1,363,971 Patented Dec. 28, 1920'.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

3% xWM G. HAZELTON.

FIRING 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.2. I9I8.

1,363,971 Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- I aw lNV-ENTUR G: HwzeZion.

BY Xi JWMQ,

AHQRNEY G. HAZELTON.

FIRING 0F GUNS. I I APPLICATION FILE-D DEC.2, 1918. I 1,363,971 Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- INV cause stares GEORGE HAZELTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FIRING OF GUNS.

Application filed December'Z, 1918.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE HAZELTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at It. A. F. Shops, Kirtling street, Battersea, London, S. W., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Firing of Guns, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is the provision of improved mechanism for firing guns mounted on aircraft, particularly in the case where the gun is arranged to fire through the path of the propeller blades by mechanism operated from the engine or other suitable driving mechanism.

Hitherto, difficulty has been experienced with the Lewis gun when arranged as above described owing to the large lag or time interval between the pressing of the trigger and the bullet passing through the plane of the propeller blades. Various proposals have been put forward to overcome this drawback.

Also when guns arranged as above referred to are fired by synchronized timing mechanism it has been customary to provide a reduction gear, so that the rate of operation of a reciprocating push rod operating the trigger or other parts, is some fraction of the engine speed. This has the drawback that any reduction of the engine speed causes a corresponding reduction of the reciprocation of the push rod and the firing of the gun.

This invention consists of a mechanism for use with a Lewis gun when arranged to fire through the propeller, which is characterized by the reduction of the aforesaid lag or time interval to such limits as will insure the bullet passing through the plane of the propeller without coming into contact with the blade, the mechanism co1nprising a spring actuated firin rod, mounted in a floating manner in the rear end of the bolt of the gun such as in a box-like extension secured to or formed on the rear of the usual feed operating stud, the firing rod being provided with abutmcnts or equivalent toward the forward and rear ends, which abutments cooperate respectively with a reciprocating part of the gun to compr ss the firing spring either on the forward or backward stroke of said part and with a sear or equivalent device, to efiect cocking and retaining of the strlker Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Serial No. 265,031.

rod on the backward stroke of the reciprocating parts, the firing rod being released when the reciprocating parts of the gun are in the firing positions by the operation of the sear from a trigger or equivalent actuated in synchronism with the engine.

In a convenient form the firing mechanism is arranged to be attached and detached as a whole from the gun and consists of a box-like member screwed into or formed integral with the usual feed operating stud and surrounding a spring actuated firing rod provided with a shoulder toward the forward end and with ahead on the rear end. The shoulder is engaged by a lug on the usual operating rod on the rearward movement of the same to force the firing rod rearwardly and compress the spring, or the spring may be compressed against the shoulder on the forward movement of the operating rod, the head during the rearward movement engaging with a spring controlled sear or the like to prevent the forward movement of the firing rod until such time as the sear is operated to release the same by mechanism operated from the engine. When the lug engages the spring to compress it against the shoulder on the forward movement, the sear holds the rod from moving forward and so allows the spring to be compressed.

The invention further consists in an improved synchronized timing mechanism for operating the trigger to fire the gun, characterized by a make and break device under the control of the gunner and consisting of a recessed or slotted member normally tending to move to the break position and piv ote'd to one part of the transmission system, and a member such as a pin, stud or the like, cooperating with the recessed or slotted member and carried by the other part of the transmission system, the pivoted member being operated directly or indirectly in any suitable manner to bring the pin and slot in the registering working position when it is desired to fire the gun.

The invention further consists in an improved synchronized firing mechanism which can be operated at any speed either above or below the normal working speed of the gun but which permits of the trigger being operated only at such times as the gun is ready for firing whereby the maximum rate of firing is limited only by the maximum rate possible for the gun to fire.

This form of synchronized firing mechanism is characterized by an operating member provided with or cooperating with a projection or finger or the like which is automatically brought into and out engage ment with the trigger or other firing memher, by the movement of some member of the gun or part operated thereby, so that the trigger or other firing member is operated automatically only at such times as the gun is ready to fire, and as will enable the bullet to pass between the propeller blades at all speeds of the engine. The mechanism preferably incorporates a divided spring controlled sleeve with interengaging projections and recesses, or a clutch or equivalent, whereby the relative rotation of the parts of the sleeve or the like can be effected.

The invention further consists in mounting a pair of Lewis or like automatic machine guns side by side, eliminating the main springs of the same and providing a pinion, or other member to engage in the rack of each operating rod or equivalent member, and so arranged as to cause a reciprocating action in the working of the same, the guns being fired automatically by firingmechanism and synchronized timing mechanism as above described, operated from a common push rod driven directly or indirectly from the engine.

In order that the manner of carrying the inventioninto practice may be readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are referred to in the different figures by the same reference numerals.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one form of firing mechanism for a Lewis gun.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of another form of firing mechanism for a Lewis gun.

Fig. 2 is a modified form of firing mechanism.

Figs. 3 and 4 are part sectional elevations of one form of synchronized transmission system embodying a make and break device.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively elevation and part sectional plan of a synchronized transmission system embodying another form of a make and break device, and embodying a device for operating a trigger or like part only at such times as the gun is ready to fire, the gun illustrated being the Lewis gun.

Fig. 7 =isa diagrammatic view of a portion of the synchronized transmission system.

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an elevation and plan of the supporting plate for the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of two Lewis guns coupled together, the firing mechanism and synchronized timing mechanism for the same being omitted.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 the firing mechanism consists of a box-like memher 1 adapted to be screwed into the usual feed operating stud 2 which is bored out to the desired dimensions for this purpose. The box surrounds a spring actuated firing rod 3 carrying a firing pin 4, which replaces the usual firing rod and is of greater length than ordinarily used. The rod 3 has a free sliding connection with the lug or like member 5 on the usual operating rod 6. The firmg rod 3 is provided with a shoulder 7 at a desired position along its length and with a head or enlargement 8 at the rear extremity. The spring 9 is mounted on the firing rod 3 within the box 1 and is retained between the box and an abutment plate or collar 10 on the rod. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, a spring controlled sear 11 is mounted in a guide 12 at the rear end of the box and normally tends to engage over the firing rod to prevent the same from moving forward, by retaining the head against forward movement relatively to the box. The lower end of the sear is provided with an enlarged extremity or head 13 of suitable shape for engagement with an extension let of the trigger 15. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2, the head 8 is beveled as at 8 for engagement with a pivoted sear 11' carrying a cylinder 11 with a spring ball or plunger 11 adapted to en gage the box 1. The lower end of the cylinder is adapted to engage an extension 14: on the trigger 15.

In operation the lug 5 on the operating rod 6 in its rearward movement slides on the firing rod 3 until it meets the shoulder 7, whereupon the firing rod is moved rearwardly compressing the spring 9, the spring controlled sear 11 or 11 dropping over the firing rod or engaging the head 8 as soon as the head has passed the same, thus keeping the spring under compression during the remainder of the working stroke of the gun. On return of the gun to the firing po sition and on actuating the trigger 15 such as by means hereinafter described, the extension l i of the trigger lifts the sear 11 or 11 to release the head 8 of the firing rod, which is driven forward by the spring 9 to cause the firing pin 4; to impinge on the detonator of the cartridge.

Fig. 2 illustrates the arrangement for compressing the firing spring 9 on the forward stroke of the gun. The head of the firing rod 8 is provided with an extension 8 which on the forward stroke of the gun engages and is held up by a nib 14 pivoted at 14 and bifurcated to engage in a correspondingly shaped part of the trigger 15 This nib is depressed through a slot in the frame plate on the rearward movement of the operating rod, the engaging end of the nib being suitably rounded for this purpose.

When the extension 8 is held up by the nib 14 the continued forward movement of the bolt and feed operating stud 2 carrying the box like member 1 compresses the firing spring 9 and on the trigger being operated to throw the nib out of engagement with the extension 8 the firing rod is driven for ward.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4:, 5 and '7, a synchronized transmission comprises a slotted or forked arm 16 pivoted to the end of the push rod 17. As shown in Fig. T, a rod 17 has one of its ends connected to the rod 17 and its other end pivoted to one arm of a bell-crank lever 17". The other arm of the bell-crank is pivotally connected to a reciprocating rod 17, which is moved in one direction by a spring 17 bearing against a fixed guide 17 and a collar 17 on the rod 17 A roller 1'7 is carried by the rod 17 and, when the gun is to be fired, is engaged and operated by a cam 17 actuated from the engine or other rotary part. Spring 18 tends to maintain the forked arm 16 in its outward or break position. A member 19, operating the trigger of the gun is provided with a cam shaped stop 20 or a stop having one corner rounded, inclined or otherwise shaped to engage a correspondingly shaped part 21 on the arm 16, so as to allow easy movement between the same and permit the fork or slot 22 to pass over the stop and receive it in the correct working position. A

bell crank or the like 23 is provided and controlled by the person ooerating the gun such as by a lever, cord, owden wire or the like 24c attached to one end of the bell crank, the other end of the bell crank 00- operating with a stud, pin or the like 25 on the arm 16. When the bell crank 23 is operated to make the joint between the trigger operating member 19 and the push rod 17, the bell crank by engaging with the stud or pin 25 forces the arm 16 to such a position that it is caused to engage over the stop 20 and so give a rigid transmitting drive to operate the trigger of the gun. On releasing the cord or other device the arm 16 is thrown away from the stop 20 by means of the spring 18 so that the transmission between the push rod 17 and the trigger operating member 19 is broken.

I With the firing gear out of action the roller 17 is just clear of the cam 17 and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is to say, with the slotted member 16 abutting against the stop 20, the engag ing surface of these two parts being struck about the pivot of the member 16 as center. Moreover, in this position the spring 18 is under slight compressionf lowest point of the cam that the member On the lever 23 being operated to make the joint between the parts 16 and 19, the part 16 slides past the stop 20 and can then move slightly forward owing to the spring being under the slight initial compression; at the same time the rod 1'? can move downward for the roller l7 to engage the cam It is only when the roller is at the 16 can take such a position that the stop, 20 engages in the notch 22.

On the roller being lifted its maximum travel by the peak of the cam the rod 17 is drawn to the left sufiiciently to draw the slide 19 to the left for its trigger operating part to cause firing of the gun.

In another form illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the transmission system comprises a sector or other suitable shaped member 26 formed with a compound'slot 27 and pivoted to thepush rod 17. A pin 28 carried by a shaft 29 operating directly or indirectly the trigger or the like of the gun engages in the aforesaid slot. The sector 26 is controlled by a spring 30 and is operated by a wire 31 or other suitable means by the gunner to bring the device into action. The compound slot 27 is so formed that on breaking the joint any forward movement of the push rod 17 brings the ector 26 into such a position that the reciprocating parts of the whole device are put out of action, and the roller 17 or other part normally engaging the cam 17 is withdrawn from the same. This is effected by curving the upper portion of the slot in. such a way as to draw the push rod 17 and roller 17 slightly more than the full lift of the cam 17*, to insure that the roller when out of action is kept quite clear of the cam. This curving can be efl'ected by striking the curve of the upper portion of the slot from a part below the pivot axis of the sector.

Synchronized transmission systems as 110 above described prevent any premature firing of the gun. which might result in the bullet passing through the propeller blade.

Referring now to the mechanism for firing the gun only at such times as the gun is ready to fire, as shown in Figs. 6 to 9,

a member which may be reciprocated to synchronize with the engine preferably without the interposition of any reduction gear, and shown on the drawing as the 120 shaft 29 hereinbefore referred to, is provided with a divided spring controlled sleeve 32 having one or more interengaging projections 33. One portion of the divided sleeve has secured to it a projecting lug 35 with a 125 cam shaped face 35 adapted to be engaged by an extension of the cooking handle 36 of the gun. The other portion of the sleeve is provided with a finger or projecting stud 37 to engage the trigger 15 of the gun. 130

When the extension of the cocking handle is out of engagement withthe cam shaped projection 35, the whole of the sleeve 32 is turned on the member '29 by the springs 38, so that the finger 37 passes underneath the trigger and so cannot engage the same, and reciprocation of the member 29 and of the push rod 17 will cause the finger to move backward and forward below the trigger. WVhen however the extension of the cocking handle engages the cam shaped projection 35, the whole of the sleeve 32 is rotated to bring the finger 37 into such a position that it can engage the trigger for firing the gun.

The make and break device with the mechanism for firing the gun only at such times as the gun is ready to fire is preferably mounted on a common supporting plate 39 for ease in attaching and detach ing, so that thestandard guncan be readily converted into one specially applicable for mounting on aircraft for firing through the propellers or a converted gun be reconverted to the standard form.

Referring now to Fig. 10, a pair of Lewis guns are mounted side by side, and a pinion 40 is provided to engage the racks 41 on the operating rods 6, the main springs of the guns being eliminated, so that a reciprocal motion is given to the moving parts of the guns, the firing of one gun and the movement of its operating rod effecting the operation of the moving part of the other gun in the reverse direction. The guns may be provided with firing mechanisms and synchronized transmission systems and timing mechanisms as hereinbefore described, the transmission systems and timing mechanisms for the two guns being operated from a common push rod operated from the engine. In this case the mecha nism shown on the right hand half of Figs. 6 and 7 is duplicated, one or both of the fingers 37 being cranked or bent as required to allow of the necessary relative movement. By this means from the one push rod the two guns can be fired synchronously with the propeller rendering possible a greater rapidity of fire than can be obtained from two single guns, which is of great advantage in aerial combats where the greater the rapidity of fire the greater the possibility of shooting down the enemy aircraft or putting the persons in the same out of action.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a Lewis machine gun having an operating rod, of a bolt reciprocated by said rod, 'a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt, a spring carried by the bolt for moving said firing pin forward independently of theoperating rod,'-means carried by the rod and pin for compressing said in firing position and for holding the spring compressed, motor operated means for actuating said trigger provided with a make and break joint, manually controlled means for controlling said joint, a cocking handle extension, and means controlled by the extension for engaging and disengaging the trigger actuating means from the trigger.

2. A synchronizing means for actuating a Lewis machine gun from the motor of an aeroplane comprising a reciprocating member having a pivotally mounted sector provided with a curved slot one end of which is nearer the pivot axis than the other end, a trigger actuating means carrying a pin which extends through the slot, a spring for normally holding the sector in such position that the pin rests in the end of the slot nearest the pivotal point and holds the reciprocating member in inoperative position and manually controlled means for swinging the sector to bring the same to a position where the pin rests in the end of the slot farthest from the pivotal pointand moves the reciprocating member into operative position.

8. A synchronizing means of the kind defined by claim 2 in which the trigger actuating means includes an oscillating sleeve having a finger for engaging a trigger, a spring for normally holding the finger in inoperative position, and a cocking handle actuated member carried by the sleeve for turning the sleeve and finger into operative position.

l. A synchronizing means for actuating the trigger of a gun from an aeroplane motor, comprising a push rod, a sector pivotally mounted on the push rod and having a slot provided with ends which are arranged different distances from the pivotal point of the sector, a reciprocatingrod having a pin located in the slot, a sleeve turnably mounted on the rod and carrying a trigger actuating finger, 'a spring for normally holding the finger in inoperative position, a cock ing handle actuated part carried by the sleeve for moving the finger into operative position, a spring for normally holding said pin in the end of the slot which is nearest the pivotal point of the sector, and manually controlled means for swinging said sector.

5. In synchronizing means for actuating the trigger of a gun from an aeroplane motor, a finger for engaging the trigger of the gun, motor actuated means for operating said finger, means for normally holding the finger in inoperative position, and cocking handle actuated means for moving the finger into operative position.

6. A means of thekind defined by claim 2 in which a cam is actuated by the motor, a spring pressed rod carrying a roller which engages said cam, and means connecting the last named rod to the reciprocating member.

7. A synchronized timing mechanism for use With guns mounted on aircraft to fire through the propeller, including a finger mounted to be brought into or turned away from the operative position relatively to the trigger, means actuated by the engine for reciprocating the finger, and means for oscillating the finger to cause the same to move into the path of the trigger.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE HAZELTON. 

